Madison - In a departure from previous years, Bret Bielema ordered the University of Wisconsin players to don full pads in the next-to-last football practice of the spring.

"We've always had this practice be helmets only," Bielema said. "And we just hadn't been very productive in the past couple years."

Cornerback Aaron Henry and wide receiver Nick Toon took advantage of the change to wage one of the more intriguing head-to-head battles of the spring Thursday, just two days before the annual spring game.

"We go hard every day and he got the best of me today," Henry said. "It's been a battle all spring."

Toon, who has used his size, strength and leaping ability to make several spectacular catches this spring, beat Henry for a touchdown on a fade route during a red-zone segment.

Quarterback Curt Phillips put the ball up high; Henry had inside position; Toon went over the top of Henry to make the catch; and Henry was left to pound the turf in frustration.

"It was a pretty decent ball," Henry said. "I had the ball in my hands and he just took it from me."

Henry won the next battle by getting perfect position as Toon tried to run a vertical route along the sideline. Henry cut Toon off and the pass was incomplete.

Nevertheless, Henry wasn't satisfied.

"I'd rather have the interception than the incompletion because that can change the game," he said. "We go at it, day in and day out. He gets me better and I get him better. I love the competition.

"I'm still upset about that ball he caught on me. I'm a competitor, man."

Henry, who appears physically fit after missing last season because of a torn anterior cruciate knee ligament, later got the best of No. 1 quarterback Dustin Sherer and wide receiver Kyle Jefferson during a modified scrimmage segment.

Sherer tried to hit Jefferson underneath the coverage but Henry, who said he was tipped off to the route by Jefferson's gait, timed his break perfectly. He made the interception on the run and would have scored in a game.

"We were kind of disguising our coverage," Henry said. "I knew what was coming and I pretty much jumped the route."

Focus, focus, focus: Bielema was peeved to see several more unforced errors that would have resulted in penalties in a game.

According to Bielema, cornerback Niles Brinkley jumped offside on a field-goal attempt to open practice and wide receiver Isaac Anderson was twice offside.

"For me," he said of Anderson's miscues, "as a wide receiver, that is inexcusable."

Extra points: Quarterback Jon Budmayr, who was limited to one series during a scrimmage Saturday because of a strained groin, has practiced all week and is expected to play in the spring game. . . .

Linebacker Mike Taylor (hamstring) was held out of practice again Thursday.